Dumb-bell.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH EDOUARD LUCIEN PELLETIER AND GASTON FERNAND MON IER,

OF PARIS, FRANCE. G

DUMB-BELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23,1907.

To all whom t Wto/y concern:

Be it known i that we, JOSEPH EDOUARD LUOIEN PELLETIER and GASTON FERNAND MONIER, citizens of the Republic of France, both residing at No. 40 Avenue Malakoff, Paris, in the Department of Seine, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dumb-Bells, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of dumb-bells of variable weight-that is to say, of dumbbells having hollow ends for the purpose of receiving supplementary movable weights which can be introduced or withdrawn at will.

The improvements relate to the means adopted for putting the movable weights into the hollow chambers ofthe balls of the dumbbell; further, to the means for locking or retaining in position the movable weights thus introduced, and, finally, in means for causing automatically the removal of the movable weights under the action of a spring placed in the dumb-bell.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichj.

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of a dumb-bell constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows an end view of the ball A of the dumb-bell shown in Fig. l, the

movable weight appearing being'represented as locked or 'in position of engagement in the weighted chamber. Fig. 3 shows an end view of the ball A of the dumb-bell shown in Fig. 1, the movable weight being represented in the position which permits it to enter freely or to be removed automatically from the weight-chamber. Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, an -elevation and a diametrical section of a movable weight forthe dumbbell shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal elevation and partial section of a construcytional modification of a dumb-bell containing the object of the invention. Fig. 7 is an end view of the dumb-bell shown in Fig. 6 Figs. 8 and 9, elevation and diametrical section of a movable weight for the dumb-bell 'shown in Fig. 6.

The dumb-bell illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 comprises two balls of spherical parts A A united by a hollow bar B. The balls A A are hollowed out along the aXis ofthe dumb-bell, so as to form two cylindrical chambers C C',

which communicate bylmeans of the hollow in the bar B. These chambers G C ,are

Vadapted to contain supplementary movable wei hts E E. These weights, of suitable thic ess, according to the number which are to be placed in each chamber, have the form of a portion of a hollow sphere, of which the external curvature corresponds to that ofthe sphere ofthe balls A A. These weights E E have their two faces (concave `and convex) parallel, so that they can be placed one upon another and form a cylindrical mass which fills the interior of the chambers C C and corresponds tofthe sphericity of the balls A A. Upon the open oriiice of each chamber C C there are formed in the casting two little lugs D Dy (D D), projecting toward the interior and diametrically opposed to one another. The weights E E are provided with notches F F (F F), corresponding to the projections of the lugs. They have also grooves G G (G G) for bolting to engage them with the lugs D D. A spiral spring H, placed in the hollow handle B, presses up its ends upon the first weights L L, placed in the chamber O C', but which is prevented from escaping by means of a pin M M, projecting in each of its slots. The weights L L are thus held permanently in the chambers C O, so as to mask the opening ci these chambers when the movable weights E E have all been withdrawn.

In order to facilitate their correctplacing in the chambers C C', the weights L L are provided with a tubular projection N N', which surrounds the spring and slides freely in the hollow handle-bar B. The same result might be obtained by adapting to the weights L L a solid handle or stem instead of the tubular projections N N. In this case the spring H would surround the said bars, leaving space for .free motiony in the handle-I bar B. According to this arrangementit will readily be understood that in order to introduce a movable weight E into the chamber C, for instance, it suilices to place this weight at the entrance of the chamber, causing its notches F to coincide with the lugs D at the entrance, Fig. 3, and then to pushit into the chamber, compressing the spring H, and iinally to rotate it a quarter of a turn to bring its locking-grooves G into engagement` y with the projections D, Fig. 2

The spring roo IOS

H by reason of its internal pressure tends to force the weight outward and insures the firmness of the lock.

In order to'withdraw a movable weight E from the chamber F, for instance, the opposite operation is performed-namely, pressure is applied upon the movable weight sufficient to compress the spring I-I and disengage the grooves G from the projections D, then the weight is rotated a quarter of a turn, so as to bring the notches F opposite the lugs D. If then the spring Hbe allowed to extend freely, the movable weight, which is visible, is thrown outward and the weight which follows it immediateljT in the chamber takes its place and locks with the projections.

In order to facilitate the rotation of the movable weights, their front face is provided at the middle with a rectilinear slot O to receive a turn-screw or simply a coin which serves to rotate them.

The invention is the same whatsoever the outer form of the balls of the dumb-bell may be, as also the essential feature of the inventionis retained if the dumb-bell is constructed with a solid handle.

Figs. 6 to 9 illustrate byway of modification of the construction a dumb-bell of which the weights c a/ are of cylindrical form and the handle b is solid. Each end of the dumbbell is hollowed out to form a cylindrical weight-chamber c. YThe weights are formed of flat platesc, provided with notches f and locking-grooves -g in order to engage with the lugs d, projecting at the entrance of the weight chamber. The spring h pressing upon the bottom of the weight-chamber insures at will the locking of the parts g of the weight with the lugs d or the automatic discharge of the weights when the notches j, with which it is provided, are brought over against the lugs d.- The number, the form, and the arrangement of the holding-lugs at the entrance of the weight-chamber may be varied if care be taken to provide the movable weights with a suitable number of slots and of grooves of the requisite shape.

What we claim is# 1. In a dumb-bell of the type set forth, hollow chambers having insertion-orifices, projections on the rims of said orifices removable weights adapted to iit within said chambers, recesses on said weights adapted to permit the weight to pass the said projections, and a spring in the handle adapted to press the weight next to the orifice and prevent its turning into the releasing position.

2. In a dumb-bell ofthe type set forth, hollow weight-chambers, the weights L L in said chambers, a spring in contact with said weights, the recesses F F on said weights, the stopping-pin M M in said dumb-bell, and the guiding-bar N N connected to said pin adapted to coperate with the spring and prevent the escape of the weights.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH EDOUARD LUCIEN PELLETIER.. GASTON FERNANI) `MONIERl Witnesses:

S. CAQUET, PAUL CAQUET, HANsoN C. CoXE. 

